

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (for select subtypes, see section II.B.8.).Head and neck cancers (excluding cancers of the central nervous system).Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) with suspected Richter's transformation.The fusion of PET and CT imaging into a single system (PET/CT fusion) is considered experimental and investigational for cardiac indications a PET scan without CT is adequate to evaluate the myocardium (NIA, 2005).Īetna considers FDG-PET medically necessary for the following oncologic indications, when the following general and disease-specific criteria for diagnosis, staging, restaging and/or monitoring are met, and the FDG-PET scan is necessary to guide management:

Diagnostic tests such as FDG-PET distinguish between dysfunctional but viable myocardial tissue and scar tissue in order to affect the management decisions in members with ischemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dysfunction.Īetna considers PET for absolute quantitation of myocardial blood flow (AQMBF) experimental and investigational because the value of this test in guiding management has not been established.įDG-PET is considered medically necessary to identify and monitor response to therapy for established or strongly suspected cardiac sarcoid. The identification of members with partial loss of heart muscle movement or hibernating myocardium is important in selecting candidates with compromised ventricular function to determine appropriateness for re-vascularization.

The greater specificity of PET makes a SPECT following an inconclusive PET not medically necessary.
